Customer Reviews

Last Command [VHS]

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although the quality of this VHS tape is absolutely excellent, it is such a good silent film that it deserves to be issued on DVD and be more readily available. It was nominated for "Best Picture" in 1928 and it's not hard to see why. Not only does it feature a dramatic performance by Emil Jannings, with superb direction by Josef von Sternberg, but the story is very interesting as well. The main theme is the Russian Revolution of 1917, but the focus is on the general, cousin of the Russian tsar and the most powerful man in Russia. Right from the start, however, we are shown a very human side of the general; 10 years later as a sad old man with a shocking past and for whom you can't help feeling sorry. Then the main part of the film, as a flashback, shows his experiences during the final days of tsarist Russia. There are some surprises and even a love story, some suspense when returning to the present day, 1928, and a very dramatic climax. Everything moves along and unfolds at a good pace, and there are not many intertitles to read or complications that are hard to follow, making this film a good choice for anyone new or a bit wary of silent films.

It is unfortunate that most people would never even think of watching a silent movie. They are missing out on some of the most wonderful films ever made. The Last Command is a spectacular film with such emotional impact. Emil Jannings had such talent. It amazes me how well he plays a Russian general suffering from such shock after the revolution. With only facial expressions and moving music to back him, he gets across more emotion than many actors today. Everyone should take the time to see this movie, it has become my favorite, perhaps it may become yours.

Here is a movie that not a lot of people know about. It is within one of the most neglected genres of filmmaking (silent), and a hard one to find. The film, which to my fortune was accompanied by a live orchestra when I first saw it, had such an emotional impact on me, that it hasn't been topped by any other movie that I have seen since. Every actor's expression in this film contains a universe of emotion; forever changing--and bringing the story to life. It should be ranked among the finest films ever made. My words cannot do it justice, so I give it my highest recommendation--see this movie!!!

Jannings won the first...Best Actor Award.....a silent film !!!You cannot miss this performance. The entire film is a masterpeice from beginning to end. William Powell in an early role...as a heavy!! I use this in all of my film courses at both college and graduate school-level.

"The Last Command" was nominated for Best Picture at the inaugural Academy Awards in 1928; "Wings" won best picture (Clara Bow, and a cameo by the very young Gary Cooper), but it is my opinion that TLC was the better of the two films. The other reviewers have given you the gist of the film; I wanted to comment on the superb score by Gaylord Carter, master of the Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra. Contrary to popular belief, silent movies were accompanied by a live orchestra (which was prohibitively expensive) or a "theater organ," which was very cost effective and allowed the hoi polloi access to movies. One would only encounter such a film accompanied by a piano if one was unfortunate enough to view the film at the local Bijou in Bugtussle. In any event, Gaylord Carter was one of the last masters of the silent film "soundtrack." I saw him play the original score for Fritz Lang's "Metropolis" on the organ at the Hammond Castle in Gloucester, MA during a screening of the film. This series of movies are worth purchasing, not only for the films themselves, but also for Mr. Carter's scoring and performance. The organ used for these films was a Wurlitzer...I want to say San Silmar, but I am not sure. William Powell (The Thin Man) is also in this film.

I do still use my vcr because some movies are not available on DVD, or cost can be staggering. Everything was as expected. Quality good. I wanted to see William Powell in an early role. Wish more were available.

As stated in the title of my review, The Criterion Collection actually has this title as a single DVD release.

I know because I was able to borrow one from my local library but for some reason the single isn't advertised for sale here on amazon.com which is too bad because:

1) This is a truly great movie;

2) It was the performance that netted Emil Jannings the first Academy Award for Best Actor ever given;

3) It shows Jannings at his greatest. Though Jannings fans may recognize the sad story of a character who must bear life's insults from his previous performance in The Last Laugh (directed by F. W. Murneau) where Jannings used many of the same methods to convey utter depair.

Being an American production the cinematic quality is noticeably better (or maybe just more familiar) than that of silent movie viewers used to silent European fare from the same time period.

Other nitpicking would include some plot holes like Jannings' characters' interaction with The Director. As can be seen in this movie, and without spoiling the plot, the Jannings character isn't exactly charitable to the director and yet years later though originally expressing antipathy toward him the director suddenly (and perhaps even implausibly) changes his attitude towards him. I think addition of dialogue earlier in the movie with Jannings saying something like "you don't realize I'm right now but someday you will" would have cured all this.

What's more, for an actor so adept at characterization, Jannings was sometimes hamstrung by the all too noticeable difference in acting skills in terms of those around him. I call this The Godfather effect where seasoned viewers could litterally watch Marlon Brando act circles around his co stars just as Jannings often did here.

It's sad that in the end something as trivial as a pronounced German accent kept Jannings in Nazi Germany following this film. I think one of the great what ifs of film history is: What would have happened if Jannings had followed the likes of Conrad Veidt, F. W. Murneau and Fritz Lang westward during the dark days of World War II.

Though we may never know the answer to that question, we still happily have Jannings works such as this one to cherish and enjoy.

This film is one of the many reasons why modern film students and drama students ought to watch silent films. I am neither of these, but can appreciate the pathos and irony contained in this story, which is put across perhaps better silently, then if words were to interrupt. Everyone who loves classic films should not miss the silent genre.

So what else is there to say? The great Emil Jannings, starring with Evelyn Brent and being directed by von Sternberg. The concept is nothing if not unique--the supreme commander of the Russian army meets the Bolshies and is reduced to being a Hollywood actor, working for one of the Bolshies he had arrested who has, by now, become a Hollywood diva/director. The execution is magnificent. The performances are stellar, the lighting utter magic. In silent film the images tell the story and what a story they tell here. Perfectly.

Jannings overacts (can someone say histrionic?), as usual, here. His mother was Jewish but that didn't stop him from working for the Nazis in the film industry throughout WWII. He denied his Jewish roots and friends/family and acted in a treacherous manner in order to save his lucrative German film career. This is probably his last worthwhile film. Wonderfully directed, beautiful print (this edition is extremely clear and new looking).